I am very glad to be in Myanmar with a return visit. Our countries have developed traditionally friendly and trustful relations, and in February we will celebrate the 65thanniversary of diplomatic relations. I am satisfied to tell you that my colleague and I agreed to hold a special event on that occasion.

Russia sympathizes with the policy pursued by Myanmar’s leaders and reforms aimed at upgrading public life and economy and developing contacts with other world. We are confident that its consistent implementation will open up new opportunities to deepen our bilateral ties in various fields.

I am pleased with the results of today's meeting. It comes at a time when Ukrainian–Russian relations are on the rise and are marked by an intensive political dialogue at all levels, especially at the highest one, where the agreement in principle on future directions of bilateral cooperation is reached. Surely, as Leonid has said, economy is the basis for this interaction, partly because the results of cooperation in trade, economic and investment spheres are directly linked to the interests of particular enterprises and people working there.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov tells RT that Western powers' habit of dividing terrorists between "bad and acceptable" could have lasting consequences for the whole world.

Syria’s chemical arsenal has become a central point of international concern since the country’s civil conflict flared up in March 2011. Syria is reportedly in possession of nerve agents including mustard gas, while NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen has already accused the country’s government of deploying the Scud missiles needed to deliver it.

Negotiations with my Slovak colleague M. Lajcak have just been concluded, and they were held in friendly, confidential atmosphere and were very specific.

We have the general understanding that the Russian-Slovak relations are based on the solid foundation, which is based on the principles of good neighborliness and partnership. In our relationship there are no serious problems, the most favorable conditions for the dynamic development of cooperation in all fields were created.

Question: What does Barack Obama's victory in presidential election in the United States mean for Russia?

Sergey V. Lavrov: We refer to this as to the choice of American people and the will of the voters.

I read about various inconsistencies and violations of the rights of voters. But no one is going to challenge the announced results of the American elections. Naturally, we will continue to work with the administration, which will be updated likely. In particular, Hillary Clinton said that she unlikely remained as the United States Secretary of State.

Over the last year or a year and a half, the events unfolding in North Africa and the Middle East have come to the forefront of the global political agenda. They are frequently referred to as the most remarkable episode in the international life of the new 21st century. Experts have long spoken about the fragility of authoritarian regimes in Arab countries and possible social and political shocks.

However, it was difficult to predict the scale and pace with which the wave of change would sweep over the region. Alongside the manifestations of crisis in the world economy, these events have clearly proved that the process leading to the emergence of a new international

First of all, I would like to thank my colleague and friend the Minister of Foreign Affairs of PRC Yang Jiechi for hospitality on the Chinese land.

We discussed directly and in details a wide range of issues regarding further deepening of our strategic partnership and cooperation on bilateral basis as well as in international arena. Russian-Chinese relations have reached the unprecedentedly high level and continue progressive development. We deepen regular political dialogue on the highest level between deputies of chairpersons of the government and ministers. We conduct such meetings every month.

Russia and the United States are the most advanced states in terms of nuclear energy use. We have put an end to the Cold War and the arms race, including the nuclear one. Today, our coun- tries have taken a common stand for the strengthening of the nuclear nonproliferation regime and have intensified their cooperation in combating nuclear terrorism.Russia expressed its full support for the proposal to hold a nuclear security summit (NSS) put forward by President Obama in 2009. The first summit took place in 2010 in Washington. We reaffirm our political commitments stated in its communique.

The transformation processes that have set in motion the Middle East and Northern Africa reflect the aspirations of the peoples of those countries for a better life, broader opportunities for self-expression, participation in political life, greater economic and social benefits. We understand and support these sentiments.